JBS teams up with beef jerky company

JBS S.A., the parent company of Greeley-based JBS USA, has announced a joint venture agreement with Jack Link’s Beef Jerky to operate two meat snack facilities owned by JBS in Brazil.

JBS S.A., the world’s largest beef producer, said in a news release it is teaming with Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, which is the top U.S. meat snack brand, to produce meat snacks specific to the needs of consumers worldwide.

Under terms of the agreement, JBS will supply beef at market prices and will jointly operate the facilities in Brazil with Jack Link’s. It will then sell product to Jack Link’s for further processing, packaging and distribution in the U.S. and elsewhere. The two companies will share the proceeds equally and is expected to become operational before the end of the year.

In addition to the joint venture, JBS also said it has reached an agreement with Jack Link’s to sell its meat snack plant in Mankato, Minn., for an undisclosed amount. That deal is expected to close by the end of September, according to the news release.

Wesley Batista, president and CEO of JBS USA, said the agreement represents an ideal partnership.

“We are forming an ideal partnership in bringing together the largest beef producer with the No. 1 meat snack team to grow this business at a time when consumers are turning more and more toward healthy protein-concentrated snacks,” he said in the news release.